Hair brush with curved styling surfaces

ABSTRACT

A hairbrush ( 10 ) has rounded outer surfaces ( 23, 25 ) of hinged heads ( 22, 24 ) that, when the brush is closed, achieve a closed form that is generally round or spherical in cross-sectional shape. Another aspect of the present invention includes inner head surfaces ( 26, 28 ) that support bristles and that are complementarily shaped concave and convex, respectively, to hold a tuft of hair in a curved position as the tuft is pulled through the closed heads.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/687,479, filed Jun. 03, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hairbrushes and, more particularly, tohairbrushes having cured surfaces integral to the brushes that areadapted to assist styling techniques.

2. Description of Related Art

Know hairbrushes, especially those used for straightening or forstyling, have two brush heads with bristles that are joined by a hingeand adapted to close around a tuft of hair so that the hair issandwiched between the brush heads while the brush is pulled through thehair. This can be used to straighten hair, typically done in cooperationwith a hairdryer, or it can be used to introduce a “flip” or curved hairend by rotating the bush while pulling through and away. This type ofhinged brush is often called a “straightening brush.” Knownstraightening brushes have flat or planar surfaces on the heads on sidesthat are opposite to and adjacent to the bristles. These flat or planarsurfaces are not as well adapted for flip or curl techniques as, forexample, the rounded surfaces found on the outside barrel of a curlingiron. A curling iron can be moved relative to the hair, i.e. in a flipor curl manner, to introduce a desired style.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is desirable to provide a hairbrush that is optimally adapted tostyling techniques such as flip or curl or others where rotation of thebrush relative to the hair while pulling is desired, while avoiding theshortcomings described above and while achieving other benefits.

A hairbrush according to the present invention has rounded outersurfaces of hinged heads that, when the brush is closed, achieve aclosed form that is generally round or spherical in cross-sectionalshape. Another aspect of the present invention includes inner headsurfaces that support bristles and that are complementarily shapedconcave and convex, respectively, the hold a tuft of hair in a curvedposition as the tuft is pulled through the closed heads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a hairbrush according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of a hairbrush according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 1C is a top view of a hairbrush according to the present invention.

FIG. 1D is a side view of a hairbrush according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 1E is a bottom view of a hairbrush according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a hairbrush according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a hair brush according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2C is a top view of a hairbrush according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2D is a side view of a hairbrush according to a second embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2E is a bottom view of a hairbrush according to a second embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1A-E, a brush (10) according to the present inventionhas a first section (12) and a second section (14), each joined by aspring-loaded hinge (16). The first and second sections (12, 14) haverespective handle portions (18, 20), and respective brush head sections(22, 24). As can be seen in FIG. 1B, the first brush head (22) has ininner concave surface (26) and the second brush head (24) has an innerconvex surface (28), which close together in a complementary, nestingmanner. Brush bristles (30, 32) are located on each respective surface(26, 28). When a tuft of hair is clamped between the complementarysurfaces (26, 28), it is held in a curved path and a user can thenrotate the brush while pulling through the hair so that the hair isguided along the arcuate path defined by the complementary surfaces (26,28). The outer surface (23) of the firs head (22) is generally convex,and the outer surface (25) of the second head (24) is generally convex.These features impart a flip or curl to the hair when the brush isclosed over a tuft of hair and the brush is rotated as it is pulledthrough the hair. Rotation of the brush is about an imaginary axislongitudinally aligned through the handle and head portions when thebrush is closed.

Another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 2A- 2E, wherein, a brush (40)according to the present invention has a first section (42) and a secondsection (44), each joined by a spring-loaded hinge (46). The first andsecond sections (42, 44) have respective handle portions (48, 50), andrespective brush head sections (52, 54). Each head (52, 54) has agenerally flat inner surface (56, 58) and a convex outer surface (60,62). Bristles (64, 66) are located on the inner surfaces (56, 58). Whena tuft of hair is clamped between the heads (52, 54), and the brush isrotated while being pulled through the hair, the hair rolls around heconvex outer surfaces (60, 62) to impart a flip, curl, or other desiredstyle.

The present invention brush embodiments shown herein may include variousadditional features such as: ceramic or tourmaline coatings to emitions; an ionic emitter that is powered by an electrical charge; anelectric heating element; an electric fan for blowing heated air ontohair being styled; a variety of electric control buttons and displayreadouts including LCD, LED or other lights, and other features.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been hereindescribe, various modification may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention.

1. A hair brush comprising a first portion (12, 42) comprising a firsthandle (18, 48) and a first head (22, 52) having an inner surface (26,56) having a plurality of first bristles (30, 64) extending therefrom; asecond portion (14, 44) comprising a second handle (20, 50) and a secondhead (24, 54) having an inner surface (28, 58) and a plurality of secondbristles (32, 66) extending therefrom and having an outer convex surface(29, 62); and a hinge (16, 46) joining said first portion (12, 42) andsaid second portion (14, 44) so that said first inner surface (26, 56)and said second inner surface (28, 58) face each other and are adaptedto contact each other when said first portion (12, 42) and said secondportion (14, 44) are pivoted about said hinge (16, 46) toward eachother.
 2. A hair brush according to claim 1, wherein said inner surface(26) of said first head (22) is a concave surface (26); and said innersurface (28) of said second head (24) is a convex surface (28).
 3. Ahair brush according to claim. 1, wherein said inner surface (56) ofsaid first head (52) is generally flat; and said inner surface (58) ofsaid second head (54) is generally flat.
 4. A hair brush according toclaim 3, wherein said outer surface (60) of said first head (52) isconvex.